The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-05-28
subtle cunning foreign to one who is
 


 Among the members of his congre- gation was MT. Silas Markham, thrifty, well-to-do farmer, whose home the preacher always made his stopping place when at his appoint ments. Mir. Markham had a pretty daughter, who was the promised wife of Joe Niven, a young man who owned ncighboring farm. Martha Markham and Joe Niven had been en- gagged for more than a year, and Joe had often entreated her to {" set the day." but she would as often put him off with the reply:
 "No, Joe, there's plenty of time yet. Let's wait little while longer," and, giving him hearty kiss, she would invariably send him on his way in happy anticipation of an early con- summation of his wishes.
 Thus it went on for several months, and at last Joe began to notice little diffidence OH the part of his affianced i; she was no longer free and easy in his presence, and any hint at marriage was cut short. He noticed, also, that any reference to the minister brought blushes to her cheeks and silence to her tongue, while formerly she dilated on every gesture and every phrase of his sermons, over and over again, in the most rapturous and innocent man. ner. Finally, she refused to go to church with him and went with the minister instead. This set the gossips a-going and stung Joe to the heart, and he lost no time ill calling upon her for an explanation.
 " Martha" he said, |" it is now two years since you promised to become my wife. How much longer must I wait ?"
 "I don't know" she replied, in an evasive way, wait-wait, till get ready"
 But, Martha," pleaded Joe, "I have waited two years already. Is that not long enough? Or do you ever intend to marry me? ?"
 "I-don't-know," falteringly re- piled the girl " l guess so."
 
 You guess sol" he said, his tem- per somewhat rising. Perhaps the minister, as the neighbors say, has supplanted me-"
 "How dare you or the neighbors either to accuse me of such a thing ?" she replied, with some asperity. "I suppose have right, if I see fit, to ride to preaching with the minister. He is as good, and better, morally, than you or any of the neighbors."
 "Perhaps he is, Martha, but it seems to me that you are more inti- mate with him than is good or neccs- sary. Oh, Martha, as I love you, do not put yourself in the way of temp tation. Preachers are but men"
 "How dare you, sir, to talk to me SOP" she interrupted, hot with anger. |" If that is the best opinion you have of me, leave me this instant, and never let me see you again."
 "Don't be nasty, my dear girl" pleaded Joe; q simply desired to warn you against the appearance of evil,' as the neighbors would view it. MT. Norfleet is married man, and insist that it is not proper that you should show such partiality for him."
 | don't thank you for your advice, sir. He is the pastor of our church and man above reproach or the ap- pearauce of evil as you aptly put it. If you object to my going with him, you can go with some one else. shall go with him when I choose"
 "Very well, Martha" he replied, " but you must either cease to go with him or me one"
 "Go," she said, sternly, |" I shall do as l please"
 With heavy sigh, Joe Niven turned and left her standing on the porch. lie wended his way home- ward with heavy heart, for he loved Martha with the full strength of his nature. The only consolation that came to him was that conference was near at hand, and perhaps Mir. Nor fleet would be transferred to some other charge and Martha's love would